Watching the Olympics is amazing! We
watched the champions strive to give all to win the prize. The same thing in
the Christian life. We strive to win the crown of righteousness. The crown that Jesus will one day give us,
when we stand before Him, will be like the gold medal. This is the ultimate
reward, the ultimate achievement. The only way we win the race is to live
totally for Jesus. Jesus is running the
race with us. He gives us the strength.
God's prize is eternal!
“I for my part am already being poured out like a
libation. The time of my dissolution is
near. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. From now on, a merited crown awaits me; on
that Day the Lord, just Judge that He is, will award it to me – and not only to
me, but to all who have looked for His appearance with eager longing.” (2
Timothy 4, 6-8)
Will we be able to say about our lives what Paul said
to Timothy about his: “I have fought the
good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”? Paul didn’t write these words to boast in
front of Timothy about his spiritual accomplishments or seek after Timothy’s
admiration. Not at all! Paul was Timothy's spiritual mentor. He was encouraging Timothy to endure in his
commitment to Christ Jesus. Paul wanted
Timothy to finish well. Paul wanted
Timothy to understand that our life in Christ takes energy, discipline, and
effort. There is a fight to be fought, a
race to be run.
How many of us believers “fight the fight and run the race”? Are we the Christians who ‘flame out’, who have no spiritual endurance, who are overcome with difficulties and discouragement? Have we forgotten what the Bible tells us in regard to perseverance and spiritual endurance? Have we forgotten the bloodshed of the Holy Apostles and early Christians who proved their tenacity of Faith? Above all, have we forgotten the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Who, having endured unimaginable pain, said at the end of His Holy Life, “Father, into Thy Hands I commend My spirit.” And, finally, “It is finished.”
How many of us believers “fight the fight and run the race”? Are we the Christians who ‘flame out’, who have no spiritual endurance, who are overcome with difficulties and discouragement? Have we forgotten what the Bible tells us in regard to perseverance and spiritual endurance? Have we forgotten the bloodshed of the Holy Apostles and early Christians who proved their tenacity of Faith? Above all, have we forgotten the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Who, having endured unimaginable pain, said at the end of His Holy Life, “Father, into Thy Hands I commend My spirit.” And, finally, “It is finished.”
Ah! But, our
Faith does not stop there! Jesus rose
from the dead! And, so will we! Holding on to our Faith in this lifetime
means we will be with the ‘cloud of witnesses’’ who will come with Jesus at the
appointed time! “Therefore, since we,
for our part, are surrounded by this cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every
encumbrance of sin which clings to us and persevere in running the race which
lies ahead. Let us keep our eyes fixed
on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our Faith.
For the sake of the joy which lay before Him, He endured the cross,
heedless of its shame. He has taken His
seat at the right of the Throne of God.” (Hebrews 12, 1-2)
Finishing well is not a one-time-act; it is a
direction we choose. We are called to live life step by step, day by day,
pointed towards pleasing Him who called us. Jesus is our Model in all
things. Jesus calls us to lay down our
baggage at His Feet, at His Cross, and to ‘seek Him, our God, unencumbered.’ Jesus is the one Who brings us to the finish
line. Saint Paul explains it beautifully
in his letter to the Philippians, “It is not that I have reached it yet or have
already finished my course, but I am racing to grasp the prize, if possible,
since I have been grasped by Christ Jesus.
Brothers, I don’t think of myself as having reached the finish
line. I give no thought to what lies
behind, but push on to what is ahead. My
entire attention is on the finish line as I run toward the prize to which God
calls me – life on high in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3, 12-14)
As Christians, we start our lives, our ministries,
full of vigor, strength, enthusiasm, vitality, eager to do what is right and
good, full of hopes and dreams for the Glory of God, for His Kingdom. Then, as years go by, do we wane? Do we mix our convictions with the ways of
the world? Do we deviate from our first Love?
Are we influenced by criticism and gossip, endeavors to take our eyes off
Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our Faith?
One evangelist put it this way,” I know how I started, but how am I
going to end up?”
Do we know how we are going to end up? Will the King say to us, “Come, ye blessed of
My Father! Receive the kingdom prepared
for you from the foundation of the world!”
Will He say, “Well-done, good and faithful servant!” Yes!
So, my brothers and sisters, how are we going to end up?
